FEATURE RECIPE
Brown bread crusted scallops with lemon and pancetta

Brown bread crusted scallops with lemon and pancetta

You can prepare the butter ahead of time and have it on hand for when unexpected guests pop in. It works equally well on grilled fish.

Serves 8

Cooking Time Prep time 15 mins, cook 10 mins (plus chilling)



30   scallops on the half shell
150 gm   mild flat pancetta, cut into lardons
To serve:   baby herbs, cress and lemon wedges
To serve:   crusty bread (optional)
Brown bread butter
250 gm   softened butter
80 gm   fresh fine brown or rye breadcrumbs
½ cup (loosely packed)   finely chopped mixed herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley, basil, thyme and dill
2   spring onions, finely chopped
1   garlic clove, minced
Finely grated rind   of 1 lemon and juice of ½


1 For brown bread butter, beat butter in an electric mixer until light and fluffy (1-2 minutes). Add remaining ingredients and beat to just combine. Spoon butter along the length of a 30cm-long piece of plastic wrap, roll to form a long sausage, then pinch ends and roll to form a tight cylinder. Refrigerate until firm or until required (2-3 hours; brown bread butter will keep refrigerated for up to 1 week).
2 Preheat grill to high heat. Place half the scallops on a tray lined with foil. Slice half the butter into rounds, place on top of scallops, then top with pancetta and grill until scallops are cooked through and pancetta is crisp (3-5 minutes). Repeat with remaining scallops, butter and pancetta. Scatter with herbs and cress and serve warm with lemon wedges and bread.

This recipe is from the December 2011 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller.

RECIPE Emma Knowles & Alice Storey PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem STYLING Emma Knowles, Alice Storey & Vanessa Austin


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